Relationship assistant

Abstract

A relationship assistant is used in conjunction with an electronic device in order to monitor a person's communications with others. The relationship assistant gathers information from a variety of applications in order to determine whether there are particular contacts with whom the user has not recently communicated. The relationship assistant can therefore inform the user of relationships that may be languishing, as well as provide a user with a listing of the number, frequency and types of communications that have occurred.

1 . A method of assisting an individual in the maintenance of a relationship, comprising: 
 monitoring a plurality of communications that occur on an electronic device;    recording information concerning the nature of the plurality of communications, the information including identification of parties with whom the plurality of communications have been conducted;    generating a report regarding characteristics of communications activity between a user of the electronic device and a party based upon the recorded information and predefined criteria; and    informing the user about information contained within the report.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising informing the user of at least one suggestion for improving communication with the party.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device comprises a mobile telephone.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the recorded information is selected from the group consisting of the time at which each communication takes place, the length of each communication, the format of each communication, the content of each communication, the originator of each communication and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of communications are selected from the group consisting of electronic mail messages, telephone calls, SMS messages, MMS messages, video messages, interactive group sessions and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising having the user customize the predefined criteria.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 assigning a plurality of contacts stored on the electronic device to at least one of a plurality of categories; and    identifying each of the plurality of communications that involve at least one of the plurality of contacts,    wherein the generated report for the party is customized based upon the particular category assigned to the contact.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the report is stored on the electronic device.  
     
     
         9 . A computer program product, comprising: 
 computer code for monitoring a plurality of communications that occur on an electronic device;    computer code for recording information concerning the nature of the plurality of communications, the information including identification of parties with whom the plurality of communications have been conducted;    computer code for generating a report regarding characteristics of communications activity between a user of the electronic device and a party based upon the recorded information and predefined criteria; and    computer code for informing the user about information contained within the report.    
     
     
         10 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising computer code for informing the user about at least one suggestion for improving communication with the party.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the recorded information is selected from the group consisting of the time at which each communication takes place, the length of each communication, the format of each communication, the content of each communication, the originator of each communication and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of communications are selected from the group consisting of electronic mail messages, telephone calls, SMS messages, MMS messages, video messages, interactive group sessions and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising computer code for having the user customize the predefined criteria.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program product of  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 computer code for assigning a plurality of contacts stored on the electronic device to at least one of a plurality of categories; and    computer code for identifying each of the plurality of communications that involve at least one of the plurality of contacts,    wherein the generated report for the party is customized based upon the particular category assigned to the contact.    
     
     
         15 . An electronic device, comprising: 
 a processor for processing information;    a memory unit operatively connected to the processor; and    a relationship assistant for assisting an individual in the maintenance of a relationship, the relationship operatively connected to the processor and including: 
 computer code for monitoring a plurality of communications that occur on an electronic device;  
 computer code for recording information concerning the nature of the plurality of communications, the information including identification of parties with whom the plurality of communications have been conducted;  
 computer code for generating a report regarding characteristics of communications activity between a user of the electronic device and a party based upon the recorded information and predefined criteria; and  
 computer code for informing the user about information contained within the report.  
   
     
     
         16 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the relationship assistant further includes computer code for informing the user of at least one suggestion for improving communication with the party.  
     
     
         17 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the recorded information is selected from the group consisting of the time at which each communication takes place, the length of each communication, the format of each communication, the content of each communication, the originator of each communication and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         18 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of communications are selected from the group consisting of electronic mail messages, telephone calls, SMS messages, MMS messages, video messages, interactive group sessions and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         19 . The electronic device of  claim 15 , wherein the relationship assistant further includes: 
 computer code for assigning a plurality of contacts stored on the electronic device to at least one of a plurality of categories; and    computer code for identifying each of the plurality of communications that involve at least one of the plurality of contacts,    wherein the generated report for the party is customized based upon the particular category assigned to the contact.    
     
     
         20 . A system for assisting an individual in the maintenance of a relationship, comprising: 
 a processor;    a memory unit operatively connected to the processor; and    a relationship assistant including: 
 computer code for monitoring a plurality of communications that occur on an electronic device;  
 computer code for recording information concerning the nature of the plurality of communications, the information including identification of parties with whom the plurality of communications have been conducted;  
 computer code for generating a report regarding characteristics of communications activity between a user of the electronic device and a party based upon the recorded information and predefined criteria; and  
 computer code for informing the user about information contained within the report.